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Kim Songsu (김송수)


225px-인촌_김성수.jpg
http://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/김송수_(1891년)


Timeline of his life

  • Oct 11, 1891) born in North Geonlla Gochang; soon adapted by his wealthy heirless uncle
  • 1908) entered Waseda University of Japan [早稻田大學] which he majored in political economy
  • 1914) retured to Waseda University, graduated, come home to Korea
  • 1917) acquired control of Chungang School (declined to sign the March First declaration of independence)
  • 1919) established Kyôngsông Spinning and Weaving Company (Kyôngbang) to promote native economic power (Japanese dominated textile industry)
  • 1920) founded the Tong-A Ilbo (promote the native press and to eliminate illiteracy) ; the newspaper was boycotted by the left and, in 1940, the Japanese closed it down
  • 1923) central person in the university establishing movement (increased nationalism among Koreans)
  • 1932) collected antiques of Korea to prevent leaking of the nation’s traditional antique
  • 1937) was a Director of Ewha Women's University
  • 1946) found Koryo University
  • 1949) leader of the conservative Korean Democratic Party
  • 1951) because the vice president of Korea under Syngman Rhee, whose drift toward authoritarianism Song opposed
  • 1951, 5) opposed to the suppression of the National Assembly; resigned from the position
  • Feb 18, 1955) died from the constant torture (Syngman Rhee’s government)

Major nationalistic movements

  • Made the students in his Chunggang School to wear uniforms made out of Korean silk
  • Accused of participating in the March 1 movement and imprisoned for six months
  • On the Chungang Newspapaer, he erased the national flag of Japan from the uniform Son Gi Jung, who won the gold medal in Berlin Olympic's Marathon

Ideological foundation
  • Deeply influenced by Kim Gu and Ahn Chang Ho's voice towards independence
  • The policy of 'National Self Determinationism' in Woodrow Wilson's 14

Opposition

  • Kim Songsu's Korea Democratic Party was a major political force opposing the Communists.
  • Opposed Syungman Rhee's authoritarian power


Question

How did establishment of schools raise nationalism?



Reflection
I attended the nationalist ball as Kim Song-su. When I said that I was an establisher of Koryo and Chungang Daily, many people (historic figures) gave me a look of awe because they were all familiar with these names. I first met Mao Zedong, a Chinese communist who believed in the Marxist government. He seemed to use violence when tolerating his people, making him a dictator. I basically disagreed with this opinion. The next historical figure I met was Chiang Kai-shek, a Chinese nationalist. He was in a political rivalries with Mao after the Chinese Revolution in 1922 which overthrew Qing Dynasty. As a nationalist, his agreed upon most of his policies. The most memorable person I met was Syngman Rhee. When I(Kim Song-su) was a vie president of Korea, Syngman Rhee was a president. As a vice president I still disagreed with him. I experienced several tortures from Syungman Rhee’s power for going against the suppression of the government.

Overall, I enjoyed this activity. I was really into my character and some people seemed to be really into theirs too. Especially when my character’s opponents and I were discussing, we supported our opinions with a reasons and even discussed whether our choices were effective or right. At the end of the nationalist ball, I could hear several responses to my question ‘How did establishment of schools raise nationalism?’ Most people’s responses could be categorized into these three:

Planting nationalistic values in the students
Secretly teaching in Korean
Raising Korean’s literacy to publish books and read books

I agree with all these points. By establishing schools such as Koryo University and Chungang School, Kim Song-su planted nationalistic values in the students. By teaching in Korean, Song-su prevented Koreans from forgetting their mother language. Lastly, by teaching students how to read and write, nationalistic ideas can spread more widely, inciting more people.



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"A Korean Nationalist Entrepreneur." SUNY Press :: Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2010. <http://www.sunypress.edu/p-2744-a-korean-nationalist-entreprene.aspx>.

"김성수." 김성수. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 14 May 2010. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Seong-su_%28journalist%29>.
Kim, but he also expresses his admiration for Kim, and believes that. "A Korean Nationalist Entrepreneur, reviewed by Patterson." KoreaWeb.ws - Your Information Gateway to Korea: Research, Art, News, Publications, Jobs, Youth, Women. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2010. <http://koreaweb.ws/ks/ksr/ksr99-12.htm>.
"A Korean Nationalist Entrepreneur." SUNY Press :: Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2010. <http://www.sunypress.edu/p-2744-a-korean-nationalist-entreprene.aspx>.